Feeding Garden Birds int he Snow

[KentYeti]

Even before getting up I had planned that my first task today, (after getting dressed!), was to clear snow off all garden feeders, thaw out water and get somewhere to put food down for the ground feeding birds in my garden.

It was much needed, there were birds around my garden behaving in a very disoriented fashion after heavy overnight snowfall.

I had also cleaned and re-filled my feeders with fresh food yesterday in anticipation of a big demand today!

I cleaned all the snow off feeders etc, and then brushed the snow off the top of the Barbeque brickwork. And put down a good mix of crushed fat balls, seed and peanuts on that.

I had only just got back into the kitchen before a Robin and then a Blackbird were feeding there. Maybe 15 seconds after I put it down!

It was then time to feed the Yeti: coffee and bacon sarnies this morning.

Then a very busy hour standing in the kitchen photographing a wide variety of birds taking breakfast in my garden.

Any other snowy morning stories?

Cheers,

Bryan - it's gonna be soup for lunch - B

I'll try and post a composite photo later today. Of the birds. Not of the Yeti eating his breakfast. LOL!

[Wild-Woman]

Ah we'd all LOVE to see you having your breakfast Yeti! So Yeties eat bacon sarnies then? Always wondered!

Re-filled my feeders today and I've had loads more visitors than normal. They all said thanks.

Vistors so far- blackbird, pair of robins, several chaffinches, greenfinches, house sparrow, starlings, blue tits, great tits, collared doves, wood pigeons, jackdaw, carrion crows, dunnock, goldfinches galore and a female sparrow-hawk.

[Billabong Karen]

No Sunday lie-in for me! Up literally at crack of dawn to open the window to let the wrens out of the garage. Then up to the kitchen to boil the kettle to put fresh water out for the birds. At least 10 blackbirds were waiting impatiently in the front garden! Stomp down the garden to put food and water out on the log stump at the end of the garden that serves as a feeding area for the big birds (crows, magpies, jays, pigeons). Check on the feeders in the front garden, put apples and mealworms out for the ground feeders. Blast - notice have forgotten to stock up on raisins!

Then walk the dog through the snow.

Then home for a well-deserved cup of tea. When I brought one to the OH (still sleeping!), he seemed surprised that I was so cold...

But it was a beautiful morning.

[KentYeti]

Originally Posted by Wild-Woman

Ah we'd all LOVE to see you having your breakfast Yeti! So Yeties eat bacon sarnies then? Always wondered!

Re-filled my feeders today and I've had loads more visitors than normal. They all said thanks.

Vistors so far- blackbird, pair of robins, several chaffinches, greenfinches, house sparrow, starlings, blue tits, great tits, collared doves, wood pigeons, jackdaw, carrion crows, dunnock, goldfinches galore and a female sparrow-hawk.

Even more of a selection that I have had.

And light snow has started falling again. Just after I cleared the path to my front door!

Yetis also love chicken. But don't tell Cordaline. She thinks it was a fox that took her Red Kite chicken bait the other nght!

Cheers,

Bryan

[BugBear99]

I'm in Kent too, and just eaten bacon sarnies too!! And like you, filled my feeders, got some water in liquid state, sprinkled the ground with allsorts (not liquorice), and saw for the very first time (at all, let alone in my apple tree) a Brambling!! I think I saw a female too, so they must have been a pair together? They didn't stay long and I think sadly were too shy to actually eat off the feeder!
Just had a nice little pied wagtail too, though didn't stay for long. The sparrowhawk also made a fly-by.
Beautiful day and glad to see lots of birds appreciating the food I put out

[Nick Smith]

Originally Posted by Billabong Karen

No Sunday lie-in for me! Up literally at crack of dawn to open the window to let the wrens out of the garage.

I have a large shed in my garden which has a kind of mezzanine about 7 foot from the floor, I have been toying with the idea of drilling holes high up in the walls to allow birds to roost/nest. Is this a good idea and would it attract birds? How would I be able to attract birds to roost/nest in the shed? I also thought about putting birdboxes inside the shed up high and making holes in the wall for them to get in/out.

On the subject of feeding in the snow, Peggy and I decided we should make the effort to get out there and clear the snow so we could feed/water the birds, as today was probably the most important day of the year so far for us to do so as we had about 6 inches of snow overnight. We were rewarded by a few regulars and a surprise guest appearance (most taken through the bedroom window):








and this which has made our week!!



It pays to help the birds

PS: We live on the Norfolk/Suffolk border, close to Lakenheath Fen RSPB and on the edge of The Brecks

[Xurek]

Not even a millimetre of snow all week up here just North of Inverness, actually no snow since December and that was only for 2 days

[aeshna5]

I'm very envious of you Nick getting both Reed Bunting + Yellowhammer in your garden. I've been out birding every weekend this year (apart from today) in many places + have yet to even see a Yellowhammer anywhere!

[Nick Smith]

Originally Posted by aeshna5

I'm very envious of you Nick getting both Reed Bunting + Yellowhammer in your garden. I've been out birding every weekend this year (apart from today) in many places + have yet to even see a Yellowhammer anywhere!

Thank you, aeshna5, we were over the moon as you can imagine.

[KentYeti]

Just some common garden birds having breakfast in Yeti's garden. After I'd cleared enough snow for them to get to the seeds and put down food etc.

None of the photos are any good on their own, so I've livened them up a bit by making a composite photo with them.

If you decide to look at the photo, click on it again when you get into the Library Images to view it at it's proper size.

Like Nicks photos above, all taken though a window, (kitchen).



Cheers,

Bryan